Collapsible crate.



F. M. CRAWFORD. GOLLAPSIIBLE CRATE. APPLIGATIOHI'ILED MAY 1a, 1908.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mam/Z I 4/ atto'uwa b "7.103 M eases THE NORRIS PETER; 00-, wnsumanm. n. c

F. M. CRAWFORD.

'GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

nruouxox rzmm MAY 18, 1908.

' Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

avweutoz FRANCIS M. onilwronn;

artner errron.

or Benson, MISSOURI.

" GOLLAPSI'BLE CRATE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2'7, 1909.

Application filed May 18, 1908. Serial No. &33,562.

To all whom it may concern. 7

Be it known that 1, Franc s M. CRAW- ronn, a citizen of thellnited States, residing at Branson, in the county of Taney and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Collapsible Crate, of which the following is a specification. 7 i

This invention relates to collapsible crates and its object is to provide a simple, du-

rable and efficient device of this character which can be quickly folded into a compact bundle so as to occupy a relatively small.

space when not in use.

Another object is to provide a crate all parts of which are connected at all times 'so that there is'no danger-of one or more of the parts of the crate becoming lost in transit.

A further object is to 1 provide simple but efficient means for securing the top panel of the crate in closed position after the crate has been set up. r

W 1th these and other ob ects n view, the

invention consists of certain novelfeatures of construction and combinations of parts; which will be here nafter more fully de scribed and pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the inventions In said drawings: Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the crate set up. Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof. 3 is a section on line AB, Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is aperspective view of one corner portion of the crate and showing the fashioning means inlockingposition. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the crate folded.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates the bottom of the crate the same being formed of any suitable material and provided with longitud inal strips 2 secured along opposite edge portions of the bottom. Hingedly connected to these strips are front and rear panels 8 and 4 respectively, the panels being so, proporticned as to fold inwardly without lap ping each other. The end portions of the strips 2 are connected by pivot rods 5 and on each of these pivot rods are mounted end strips 6 connected byslats7, said strips and slats constituting one of the end panels of the crate. These end panels are designed to fold downward onto the bottom of the crate and when so positioned the front and rear panels can fold onto them so as to form a compact bundle as indicated in Fig.

5. Each of the front and rear panels 3 and.

- -4c-consists of end strips 8 connected by slats 9 although it is of course to be understood that these panels can be of'any other suitable construction.

The rear panel 3 has guide rods 10 there on parallel with and adjacent the end strips 8 and each of these guide rods has angular end braces 11 which extend inwardly and --thence laterally, they being fastened in any suitable manner to one of the end strips 8. The guide rods 10 extend practically the entire height of the panel 3 and are designed to be engaged by loops 12 extending from the rear ends of cross strips 13 to whiehthe slats 14 of the top panel are fastened. These slats are also secured upon end strips 15 designed, when the crate is set up, to lap the outer faces of the end panels. Retaining blocks 16 are also secured to the top of panels 3 and 4: adjacent their ends and are spaced from the end strips 15 sufficient distances to permit the end panels to rest between said blocks and the end strips 15. i j

Each end strip 8 of the front panel 4 has a transverse groove 17 inits upper end and these grooves constitute seats for laterally extending pins l'8fextending from the front endsiof the end strips 15 which, as indicated in Fig' 2, project beyond the slats of the top panel. These pins 18 are designed to be engaged by locking devices each of which consists of a strip 19 having a hook-like head 20 stone end, said strip being pivotally connected in any suitable manner to one face of one of the end strips of the panel 4. A notch 21 is formed in each strip 19 for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

1 When-the crate is set up the front and rear panels assume upright positions upon the upper edges of thelongitudinal strips 2 and the end panels are brought into positions at right angles to the bottom of the crate, after which the top panel is moved upwardly relatively to the rear paneluntil the loops 12 assume positionsagainst the upper inturned end portions of the rods 10. The top panel can then be swung onto the front, rear, and end panels so that said .end panels will become seated between the end strips 15 and the retainingblocks 16. At the same time the pins 18 will assume positions within grooves 17 whereupon the strips 19 can be swung on their fulcrums so as to bring the hooked heads 20 into engagement with the pins. These strips can then be fastened by driving a small tack or other holding device 22 into each end strip 8 on the front panel a so as to prevent the locking strip from becoming disengaged from the pin 18.

- When it is desired to collapse the crate the foregoing operation is reversed. Each tack 22 is withdrawn from the strip 8 engaged thereby, after which the locking strips 19 are swung so as to release the pins 18. T he top panel is then swung upwardly so as to withdraw the blocks 16 from engagement with the end panels whereupon said end panels are swung downwardly onto the bottom of the crate. The front and rear panels are then folded onto the end panels, after which the top panel is brought into position parallel with the rear panel of the crate and is slid thereonto until the loops 12 assume positions against those inturned ends which are positioned close to the hinges of the rear panel. The parts will thus have assumed the positions shown in Fig. It will be seen therefore that the crate can be quickly folded into a compact bundle and will occupy but a small space.

-What is claimed is:

1. A foldable crate comprising a bottom, front, rear and end wall panels hingedlyconnected thereto and foldable thereon, end strips upon one of the said panels, guide rods secured to the end strips and interposed therebetween, said end strips extending outwardly beyond the guide rods and constituting guards therefor, a top panel, and means upon the top panel for slidably engaging the guide rods.

2. A foldable crate comprising a bottom, front, rear and end wall panels hingedly connected thereto and foldable thereon, end stripsupon one of said panels, guide rods interposed therebetween and having angular end portions connected thereto, said end strips extending beyond and constituting guards for the guide rods, a top panel, means upon said top panel for slidably engaging the guide rods, and means upon said top panel for lapping and engaging opposite wall panels of the crate to hold them against the adjoining ends of the remaining wall panels.

fr foldahle crate comprising a bottom, end, front and rear wall. panels hingedly connected thereto and foldable thereon, guide rods upon one of the panels, means upon said panel for holding the guide rods out of contact with the adjoining panels when the, crate is folded, a top panel, means thereon for slidably engaging the guide rods, retaining blocks upon opposite panels, and means upon the top panel for holding the remaining panels against said retaining blocks.

l. A foldable crate comprising a. bottom, front, rear and end panels hingedly connected thereto and foldable thereon. end strips upon one of the panels and having grooves in their upper ends, a top panel movably connected to one of the wall panels and including end strips disposed to lap the grooved end strips, pins extending laterally from one end of the strips of the top panel, said pins being disposed to be seated within the grooves, a locking strip pirotally eonneeted to each of the grooved end strips and having a notch for the reception of the adjoining pin, and means for engaging said grooved end strips for holding the locking strip in engagement with its pin.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, 1 have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS ld. (lltafll i Ulll).

\Vitnesses:

Jesse A. flomcs'rox, ria e. in) E. l? HQ 01 i 

